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Central Fla. parents line up to register for Toys for Tots

Central Florida parents taking part in the Toys for Tots program lined up Monday afternoon to try to make sure their kids have a gift to open Christmas morning.

The program began verifying registration information Monday at the Toys for Tots warehouse on Hoffner Avenue.

There was a long line of people waiting to register, and officials said the lines are expected to last through Saturday.

It's the last step for parents to participate in the annual toy collection and gift giving that the U.S. Marine Corps does every year.

So far, more than 18,000 families have registered and the Marines said it expects that number to double in the next few days.

Last year, 38,000 children received toys in Seminole, Orange and Osceola counties.

This year, the Marines are hoping to fill up a vacant Winn Dixie store with new, unopened toys for all age groups.

"This is where we collect all of our toys, stage, and sort and eventually distribute to the population that is signed up," said U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Hoagland. "We should be overflowing with toys here in the next few weeks, so we can give them out to the needy families."

MORE INFORMATION: How to register your child to get toys, or information on how to donate or volunteer